No silos, no hidden truths, and no shitty first drafts: A Q&A with Nicole Graev Lipson

By Asya Partan

Nicole Graev Lipson’s memoir in essays, Mothers and Other Fictional Characters, examines myriad female archetypes and the ways in which women perform, internalize, and defy cultural expectations. Asya Partan spoke with Lipson about crafting intricate, intimate, award-winning narratives, word by word.

Asya Partan: In its complexity and sophistication, Mothers and Other Fictional Characters defies categorization, exploring girlhood, motherhood, love, cultural criticism, psy...